Employer: Salford Community Leisure Ltd. Accountable to: Salford Community Leisure Board of Trustees Location: Salford Salary: £100k (pay award pending) Closing date: 25 May 2026 Contract: permanent Hours: full time Salford Community Leisure (SCL) is a community benefit society with charitable status that manages sport, leisure, and cultural services on behalf of Salford City Council. One of the largest leisure trusts in the country, with an annual turnover of c. £20million, it delivers an unusually diverse range of public services focused on sport, health, wellbeing, leisure, libraries and culture and runs more than 60 venues in the city. These include seven leisure centres, eight community centres, 16 libraries, major museums/ galleries and heritage venues (including Ordsall Hall and Salford Museum and Art Gallery), the Salford Watersports Centre, Cleavley Athletics Track and multiple community sports pitches, playing fields, tennis courts, and school facilities. It is entering a new phase of development and is looking to appoint an exceptional new CEO to take the organisation forward to support its people and champion organisational excellence. The new CEO will be a strategic, inspiring, collaborative and committed leader with a an already acquired, or capacity to develop, deep understanding of how sport, culture, libraries and community services enhance and improve lives. They will have strong business acumen, a people-focused approach, and a commitment to delivering public value in a complex, high-profile environment, balancing social impact with income generation. They will lead the organisation through the next phase of its evolution, maintaining and building upon its established reputation and influence. The role requires a wide-ranging set of skills, capabilities and experience, proven leadership and credibility at the highest level. The successful candidate will, thus, bring high level strategic understanding, operational management experience and knowledge of financial performance and compliance. They will have an excellent partnership work-based background - of particular importance in respect of the society’s relationship with Salford City Council, public health and community partners. About the role SCL is looking for a strategic, dynamic, inclusive and politically astute leader with a track record of delivering service improvement within complex organisations. You will bring the credibility and judgement required to navigate high levels of public interest, board, community and stakeholder engagement, alongside the ability to inspire teams and build a culture of trust, integrity and continuous improvement. Accountable to SCL’s board and the wider membership, the new CEO will develop the strategic direction of the business and lead the organisation to deliver a rolling medium-term effective business plan. This is a senior leadership appointment of real significance and influence. We are, thus looking for a leader who brings: 3 Relevant experience and strategic credibility. 3 Commercial acuity and social value understanding. 3 The empathy, insight and imagination to shape an inclusive and inspiring working culture. SCL’s board combines wide-ranging expertise and purposeful ambition. This is a chance to join at a moment of renewal, to invest your leadership in an organisation that is pivotal to its people, its city and its future. The company SCL is an equal opportunities employer and strives to create an inclusive culture where talent can flourish. All appointments are made based on merit; however, but we particularly encourage applications from women, people from minority ethnic communities, LGBTQ people and disabled people. While the role will involve ‘being in work on a regular basis, SCL is also geared up for hybrid-working. This does enable the CEO to work from home as deemed reasonable. Where possible, you will attend the office or our various premises in line with our company policy. The process KKP is supporting SCL with this appointment. If you wish to have an informal conversation about the role please contact John Eady (john.eady@kkp.co.uk). For additional details about SCL and for detail about how to apply, please click apply.